Foster Farms Chicken Link in 134 Salmonella Illnesses

The CDC reported today that a total of 134 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg were reported from 13 states.

31% of ill persons were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported.

Most of the ill persons were reported from two states, Oregon (40) and Washington (57).

Collaborative investigative efforts of local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicated that Foster Farms brand chicken was the most likely source of this outbreak.

Testing conducted by the Washington State Public Health Laboratories identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg in four intact samples of chicken collected from three ill persons’ homes in Washington, which were traced back to two Foster Farms slaughter establishments.